Ammonia Crisis

[ddowling01]

Hi,

On Monday last week I put 5ml of ammonia in my newly fitted tank. Today I checked the ammonia again, and it is still dark green on the liquid test showing 8.0ppm or above.

I did a 75% water change on Friday morning, what else can I do??

Dan.

 

[hollanda88]

Another water change to bring the conc. down to 5ppm, you could have any amount about 8ppm in there proberbly.

Did you calculate you needed 5ml of ammonia to get 5ppm?

 

[ddowling01]

Another water change to bring the conc. down to 5ppm, you could have any amount about 8ppm in there proberbly.

Did you calculate you needed 5ml of ammonia to get 5ppm?

Hi,

Yeah I worked it out using the calc on the forum. I'll do another change this afternoon, thanks.

Dan.

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, only use the calc to ensure that you're "coming in way low" and then test your way up to the 4-5ppm level. The ammonia in the bottle often won't test out to matching what the numbers say it is.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ddowling01]

Yeah, only use the calc to ensure that you're "coming in way low" and then test your way up to the 4-5ppm level. The ammonia in the bottle often won't test out to matching what the numbers say it is.

~~waterdrop~~

Hi,

So surely I put less ammonia in the tank than I should have done, and yet it's been reading sky high ratings all week?

I'll give it another 75% change this afternoon and test before I go to bed tonight and the same the following evening and post back.

Dan.

 

[waterdrop]

Did you not do a bucket test prior to your first ammonia add? Did you only go by the calculator?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ddowling01]

Did you not do a bucket test prior to your first ammonia add? Did you only go by the calculator?

~~waterdrop~~

Yeah I just threw 5ml of 9.5% ammonia solution in last Monday.

Dan.

 

[waterdrop]

I have a plastic bucket with a 2 gallon mark inside. What I do it put tap water to that mark, then get my ammonia, syringe/dropper and a pencil and paper. If I've calculated what it should be via an ammonia calculator, I add HALF what it should be for the two gallons. I mark that I did that. Then I test with my kit. If its already over 4ppm I start over! Eventually I work out what -MY- ammonia really needs to be measured at to acheive 5ppm in my tank.

We've had people who've used the calculator and their final test level was way too high. On the other hand, some people use it and it works out perfectly for them. Testing and finding the right level for your own situation is tedious but unfortunately it does matter. For whatever reason, its just too easy for this to be "off" for people.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ddowling01]

I have a plastic bucket with a 2 gallon mark inside. What I do it put tap water to that mark, then get my ammonia, syringe/dropper and a pencil and paper. If I've calculated what it should be via an ammonia calculator, I add HALF what it should be for the two gallons. I mark that I did that. Then I test with my kit. If its already over 4ppm I start over! Eventually I work out what -MY- ammonia really needs to be measured at to acheive 5ppm in my tank.

We've had people who've used the calculator and their final test level was way too high. On the other hand, some people use it and it works out perfectly for them. Testing and finding the right level for your own situation is tedious but unfortunately it does matter. For whatever reason, its just too easy for this to be "off" for people.

~~waterdrop~~

Hey,

OK thanks i'll try that tomorrow. Just done a 90% change and it's back to 0.25ppm now

Dan.